Chapter 117: Face Slapping Is Real?

Signing the papers didn’t take long and within a few minutes of their meeting, Solterra Development Group was officially Ethan’s property.He had paid way less than he expected to, mostly because Irina refused to accept full price for it, even at his insistence.

But that much didn’t matter, what mattered right now was being extremely petty and making a couple of people learn some pretty important life lessons.

"Want me to show you around your new company?" Irina asked standing up from opposite him.

Ethan folded the folder, slid it into his coat, and rose. "Lead the way."

At his reply, Irina nodded to the company’s former CEO, silently ordering him to lead the way, as if he was nothing but an errand boy.

But he didn’t dare say anything in protest as he calmly took the lead with the two following behind as they exited the meeting room.

Of all the things he’d dare to do, crossing Ms Romanova was not one of them. He still loved his life enough to not throw it away just because of a stupid pride.

He wouldn’t try offending the young man by her side either, since she seemed clearly drawn in by him.

An observation skill not everyone shared, and someone was about to learn the hard way.

The CEO kept his head down as he slowly walked forward, introducing each office to them.

"This is the finance department," he muttered as they passed through a hallway of glass partitions, every desk abandoned.

Computers left on and files stacked carelessly on chairs, evidence that the staff had been ushered out in a hurry at the sudden information that Irina would be arriving.

Ethan’s gaze drifted lazily over the empty chairs, but his mind wasn’t on the tour or the messy files stacked on the desks.

No, he was already picturing the faces of those smug little bastards who had dared to harass María. They’d be sitting in these very chairs tomorrow, none the wiser that it’ll be their last day at work and their first day of ’misfortunes’.

Irina noticed the faint curl of amusement on his lips but said nothing, as she had on a smile of her own.

When he called her the previous night, she knew something was wrong so she did a little digging into the staff of Solterra Development Group and what she found made her rather displeased.

Turns out, a few of the staves have been threatening a couple of building owners into selling their buildings to them, probably for a bigger bonus, and it had been working.

Normally, she wouldn’t care how they ran the company, as long as they didn’t provide advantages that her brothers could exploit.

But this time, it wasn’t just anyone they threatened, it was someone important to Ethan and she had decided that someone important to Ethan was also important to her.

Except... If they were also trying to compete for his affection. Lillian got a free pass because she liked him first and had been with him longer..

At least a few months before Irina met Ethan, so it was understandable that Lillian would take precedent..

Anyway, threatening Marìa was the worst those three could do and she would’ve made them pay personally, but she was sure he wouldn’t appreciate it and judging by his current smile, she was right.

He wanted to deal with them himself.

The CEO cleared his throat nervously as he continued the tour, "Over here is legal and compliance... and this floor belongs to acquisitions."

Ethan gave a noncommittal nod. "Hm."

The man swallowed, his pace slowing as they approached the double doors at the end of the corridor. He pushed them open and stepped aside, gesturing stiffly. "This is the executive wing."

The office was a neatly arranged one, polished oak desks lined up with meticulous care, leather chairs tucked in perfectly as if waiting for their pompous owners to return. Framed certificates and family photos decorated the walls, reminders of people who thought themselves untouchable. The faint hum of the central AC filled the silence, but beneath it all, the air reeked of arrogance.

Ethan’s eyes swept across the room slowly, deliberately, taking in every detail as if committing it to memory.

The thought of a couple of greedy employees targeting Marìa made him clench his fist, but he forced the anger down, letting it surface as a smirk instead, one that was making the CEO sweat.

He wasn’t made that the fact that they were being greedy, after all, that was human nature....greed.

But that greed became wrong in his eyes when it was targeting Marìa.

Since her building was in a pretty hotspot, every real estate agent would have eyes on it, but instead of a civil business conversation, these three resorted to threat and he’d make them wish they never did.

Ethan reached out, running his fingers lightly along one of the desks. "Executive wing, huh? Nice setup."

The CEO’s Adam’s apple bobbed nervously. "Y-yes, it’s where the acquisitions team leaders work. And, uh, the senior negotiators..." His voice trailed off, like he’d already realized saying too much would come back to bite him.

Irina stepped past Ethan, her heels letting out a clicking sound.

She glanced over one of the nameplates fixed neatly on a desk, her lips curling into a smile that was anything but warm. "Ah. So this is one of them."

The CEO froze, his face paling. Although he had no idea what she meant by that, but she was sure it was definitely not anything good.

Irina looked back at him, her eyes glittering with a mischievous light. "Mm. This one, give us information on him and his performance in the company for the past few months."

"R-right away, ma’am." The CEO replied in a trembling voice.

He wasn’t scared that his employees were in trouble, far from it. He was scared that he would be implicated and caught in the crossfire/consequences of their actions.

Ethan on the other hand just looked at Irina with a raised brow, it was obvious enough that she knew something which wasn’t surprising since they were his employees so she could easily find out their ’company’ activities with a snap of her fingers.

And even if she didn’t, she could just get it directly out of them if she wanted.

The CEO fumbled for his tablet like a man searching for a life preserver. He tapped the screen, voice barely audible. "I—I can pull up his file. Personnel, recent transfers, expense reports...everything."

Irina watched him with a patience that had teeth. "Bring it." Her tone left no room for argument.

He hurried off, shoulders hunched, disappearing around a glass partition, ready to go pull every single information on the three.

Even if the info wasn’t related to their work in the company.

While he was gone, only the sound of the AC unit could be heard as the two were completely silent for a while, before Ethan broke the silence with a question.

"Are you going to tell me how you found out why I bought the company?" Ethan asked, mostly to make conversation...which was strange, even for him.

"A magician never reveals her secrets," she said with a grin as she put a finger to her lips and taking a small pause before she added, "...for free."

But before Ethan could reply, the sound of footsteps clicking on the floor was heard, and the two turned towards it.

It didn’t sound hurried so Ethan dismissed the idea of it being the CEO, which meant that it was someone else.

The clicking grew louder until the figure appeared at the far end of the executive wing.

A man in his late twenties, sharply dressed in a navy suit that screamed "new money" but didn’t quite fit right. His hair was slicked back with too much gel, and the smirk plastered on his face made Ethan’s lip twitch in annoyance.

"Ah, Ms. Romanova," the man greeted, adjusting his tie. "I didn’t know you were here in person. What an honor."

"I came here to complete a deal, but to think I’d meet the Irina Romanova."

Irina just gave him a kind smile as she asked, "And you are?"

He puffed his chest slightly. "Christopher Bell. Senior negotiator, acquisitions department." Then his eyes moved to Ethan and widened briefly in recognition before narrowing with disdain. "Oh. Ethan Carter."

Chris turned back to Irina, lowering his voice just enough to sound conspiratorial. "I’m surprised you’re keeping such... company, Ms Romanova." He tilted his head in Ethan’s direction. "You know, he’s unemployed, right? Word is he quit his teaching job and hasn’t done anything since. Man practically lives off handouts."

Ethan said nothing, merely watching with that same calm, unreadable stare. The silence unsettled Chris more than he expected, but he quickly forced out a laugh. "Don’t get me wrong, he was always clever in school—top of the class even. But clever doesn’t pay the bills, does it?"

Irina tilted her head slightly, her smile sharpening as her gaze moved between the two men. "Unemployed, you say?" she echoed, her voice laced with amusement.

Chris mistook her tone for interest and puffed up even more. "Yes. Everyone in town knows. Quite the fall from grace, really. Not that there was much grace to begin with." He laughed again, waiting for Irina to join him.

She didn’t.

Instead, Irina walked over to Ethan’s side, her arm brushing against his as she leaned ever so slightly toward him.

Her smile this time was genuine, sweet even. "Funny," she said lightly, her eyes never leaving Chris. "Because from where I’m standing, Ethan seems to be doing better than most."

Chris blinked, thrown off, before forcing a laugh. "Ah... well, appearances can be deceiving. Trust me, I knew him back then. Always the odd one out. Brilliant, yes, but never... successful."

Ethan finally spoke, his tone was completely calm as he spoke, "Chris Bell. Still talking more than you should, I see."

Chris stiffened at the even delivery, the way his name rolled off Ethan’s tongue like a warning rather than a greeting.

Irina’s grin widened, but her eyes were as cold as winter steel. "Mr. Bell," she purred, "would you like to know something amusing?"

Chris swallowed, the smirk faltering. "...What’s that?"

She glanced up at Ethan, then back at him. "You’re standing in his company."